Value-Added Biomass Products
The Team:John Hu (lead), Stephen Chmely, Dan Ciolkosz, Bingyun Li, and Jingxin Wang.
Value-Added Biomass Products aims to develop and optimize bio product conversion processes through collaborations with industry partners. Dive into the world of innovative conversion processing and its role in enhancing the utilization of biomass for high-value chemicals and bio-chemicals. Join us on the journey towards a greener, more sustainable future.
1. Lignin-Soy Protein Bioadhesives
MASBio researchers developed bioadhesives that provide sustainable alternatives to fossil-derived adhesives. These bioadhesives maintain environmental benefits and cost-competitiveness, with promising applications in food-safe packaging and construction. A detailed publication highlighted lignin's partial depolymerization and cross-linking with proteins as a novel approach to replace formaldehyde-based adhesivesAqueous soy adhesive as phenolic blends
- This article presents that lignin oligomers prepared with base-catalyzed depolymerization have great potential for use as phenolic blends to enhance the tensile shear strength of soy protein adhesive.Furthermore, the bio-adhesive is aldehyde-free and water-based, making it highly promising for interior applications and the wood products industry.
Bio-adhesives production from isolated soy protein and kraft lignin
2. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Research on converting forest residues into SAF addresses critical feedstock variability and quality standard challenges. These efforts align with growing industry demands for sustainable alternatives, reducing carbon footprints in aviation.
3. Bioplastics Development
Efforts to utilize biomass-derived components, such as lignin and cellulose, for non-degradable bioplastics promote environmentally friendly construction materials. Ongoing studies emphasize the importance of techno-economic analyses and life-cycle assessments to optimize production methods.
Torrefied Paper as a Packaging Material and Subsequently as a Bioethanol Substrate
- There is potential to develop a bio-renewable system where torrefied cellulosic paper withincreased wet strength can be repeatedly used as packaging material. Subsequently, it can behydrolyzed downstream for bioethanol production after alkaline treatment, contributing to acircular and sustainable economy. This study demonstrates that mild torrefaction could be anon-chemical technique to improve the wet tensile strength of paper while maintaining satisfactory glucose yield potential.
4. Lignin-Based Porous Biomaterials for Medical and Pharmaceutical Applications
Lignin-based porous biomaterials have the addition of lignin obtained from lignocellulosic biomass. In this article, an overview of the current status and future potential of lignin-based porous materials for medical and pharmaceutical uses, focusing on material types, key properties, approaches and techniques of modification and fabrication, and promising medical applications is provided.
Lignin-Based Porous Biomaterials for Medical and Pharmaceutical Applications
5. Unraveling the Role of Glycine in K2CO3 Solvent for CO2 Removal.
This study determined the role of Gly and the CO2 absorption mechanisms of mixed solvents of K2CO3and Gly and assessed the effect of Gly on CO2 absorption properties and the formation of solid KHCO3precipitates. The results show that the addition of Gly to K2CO3 solvents, even in small amounts, can significantly improve the CO2 absorption kinetics
Unraveling the Role of Glycine in K2CO3 Solvent for CO2 Removal
More Resources
Biomass Conversions, by Dr. Steven Chmely, Penn State University
Biomass Conversion to Value-added Products by Dr. John Hu, West Virginia University